South Plains College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX-RN Outcomes & Requirements (2026)
From its Levelland campus, South Plains College runs Board-approved vocational nursing and an ACEN-accredited ADN, plus LVN-to-RN and paramedic-to-RN transition options—with clinical rotations concentrated in the Lubbock–South Plains health market. This guide uses SPC’s 2024 ADN NCLEX-RN table, 2025–26 Cost of Attendance tuition bands, and public TEAS thresholds; confirm deadlines and policies with SPC and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
* Tuition from SPC 2025–26 Cost of Attendance (nine-month tuition & fees row). NCLEX from SPC ADN Program Outcomes aggregated table.
Key Takeaway
SPC nursing highlights simulation labs, a published list of Lubbock-area clinical affiliates (including Covenant and UMC), and TEAS-based ranking for limited-seat programs. In-district residency (Hockley County / Whiteface CISD) unlocks the lowest 2025–26 tuition band on the official Cost of Attendance.
Overview & Why Students Choose South Plains College
South Plains College (SPC) is a public community college based in Levelland with sites serving the South Plains region. Nursing anchors on the Levelland campus for the ACEN-accredited Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) program, while vocational nursing (LVN) is offered at Board-approved locations including Levelland, Reese, and Plainview per the college’s public accreditation statements.
Official materials emphasize simulation labs, a growing curriculum refresh (the college notes fewer prerequisites to begin the ADN application process), and a commuter-friendly connection to Lubbock clinical partners less than 30 miles east—useful for students who want major-hospital experience while living in a smaller hometown.
On its ADN Program Outcomes page, South Plains College lists a 96.34% aggregated first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate for 2024. An SPC newsroom article separately described a 100% NCLEX pass rate for the December 2023 ADN cohort (45 graduates)—a single-cohort snapshot, not the multi-year aggregate. Confirm current cohorts with the program outcomes page and the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard.
Reasons students choose South Plains College
Published ADN outcome history
SPC posts a multi-year NCLEX-RN table (2019–2024 on the outcomes page), useful for applicants who want to see recovery after lower-rate years alongside more recent improvement.
Simulation-forward skills prep
The college markets updated simulation and lab spaces so students rehearse scenarios before entering Covenant, UMC, and other affiliate sites listed publicly.
Several pre-RN entry routes
Beyond generic ADN, SPC advertises LVN programs and a transition track for paramedics or LVNs who want to test for RN licensure after completing the degree.
Lubbock clinical ecosystem
The published affiliate roster spans acute-care systems, behavioral health, schools, wound care, and university-affiliated community clinics—mixing high-acuity and community-based experiences.
Low in-district tuition band
2025–26 financial-aid Cost of Attendance shows $2,762 nine-month tuition and fees for qualifying in-district residents—far below out-of-state pricing on the same table.
Nursing Programs Offered
South Plains College does not award a BSN on campus; the catalog-level focus is pre-licensure ADN and vocational nursing, plus formal transition applications for licensed LVNs or paramedics. Summaries below follow SPC’s public nursing site, application PDFs, and accreditation text (ADN at Levelland; LVN sites named there).
Pre-licensure (RN)
Traditional Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)
The ADN is delivered at the Levelland campus, completes in four nursing semesters after prerequisites, and awards the associate degree needed for NCLEX-RN eligibility. SPC states the program is ACEN-accredited and Texas Board of Nursing–approved. Applicants follow a stand-alone nursing application, complete TSI requirements where applicable, and sit for the TEAS through the Testing Center.
LVN or Paramedic to ADN (Transition)
A separate transition application packet is posted for currently licensed LVNs or paramedics who seek advanced placement toward the same ADN credential and NCLEX-RN. TEAS minimums for transition students include a higher Science threshold than generic ADN—see the TEAS section on the college’s nursing programs page.
Pre-licensure (LVN)
Vocational Nursing (LVN)
Vocational nursing prepares graduates for NCLEX-PN. SPC’s site lists Texas Board of Nursing approval for Levelland, Reese, and Plainview LVN offerings. Admission also uses TEAS; download the current LVN information packet for deadlines and prerequisites.
SPC nursing checklists include CPR certification, immunizations, drug screening, background checks, and Core Performance Standards acknowledgments—typical of Texas pre-licensure programs. Any criminal-history questions should be routed through SPC advisors and the Texas Board of Nursing early.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
South Plains College’s ADN Program Outcomes page shows aggregated first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates by calendar year. The most recent entry on that table is 96.34% for 2024 (school-reported aggregate). Earlier rows on the same page include 79.05% (2023), 50.65% (2022), and 64.29% (2021), illustrating cohort-to-cohort variability—always read the full table rather than a single headline.
NCLEX-PN (LVN)
We do not cite an LVN pass rate here because SPC’s ADN outcomes page we reviewed focuses on NCLEX-RN aggregates. For NCLEX-PN performance by SPC’s vocational nursing sites, use the Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard or ask the LVN program office for the latest school disclosure.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass rate (ADN, aggregate) | 96.34% (2024) — South Plains College ADN Program Outcomes |
| Single-cohort note (school news) | SPC newsroom: December 2023 ADN class of 45 reportedly achieved 100% NCLEX pass rate—use alongside the multi-year table, not in place of it. |
| Source (school) | southplainscollege.edu/…/programoutcomes.php · Newsroom pass-rate article |
| Source (regulatory) | Texas Board of Nursing Education Dashboard — confirm current Board-published rates and approval status. |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and methodology (first-time testers vs. all testers, program-level aggregates vs. statewide benchmarks). Confirm the latest figures with South Plains College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
Requirements for international students and internationally educated nurses vary by institution and state. Use the points below as a checklist; verify everything with South Plains College and the Texas Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: TOEFL, IELTS, or other requirements and minimum scores for this school.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: WES, CGFNS, or other evaluators required by the school.
- Texas Board of Nursing: For RN licensure (with or without a U.S. degree), confirm NCLEX eligibility and document requirements with the Board.
- Immigration & visa: Program eligibility for F-1 or other visa types and impact on clinical placements.
SPC nursing posts an international-student English-proficiency guideline document linked from the nursing programs page; policies change frequently—verify with SPC’s international office and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
Applicants must first enroll at South Plains College, then complete a separate selective nursing application. Official nursing pages link a master application PDF plus track-specific instructions for ADN and LVN and a dedicated packet for LVN/paramedic transition. Expect TEAS scheduling through the SPC Testing Center, TSI compliance where required, criminal-background guidance aligned with the Texas Board of Nursing, immunizations, Core Performance Standards, and drug screening after acceptance.
Application timeline
| Entry Term | Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall / Spring cohorts | Varies by year (see current PDFs) | Download the latest nursing programs page attachments—application PDFs are version-dated (e.g., spring 2026 packet naming). |
TEAS minimum scores (published)
As listed on the college’s public nursing page: ADN applicants need TEAS English, Math, and Reading at ≥58.7% and Science ≥50.0%. LVN or paramedic-to-RN applicants use the same English/Math/Reading minimums but need Science ≥58.7%. Higher scores strengthen competitive ranking.
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate (Nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Minimum GPA / ranking | Not publicly disclosed on the pages reviewed; expect competitive, points-based review. Confirm progression policies in the nursing student handbook/catalog. |
| Entrance exam | TEAS through SPC Testing Center (see ADN testing page). |
| Clinical requirements | CPR (HeartCode BLS link supplied), immunizations, drug screening after acceptance, background-check packet, Core Performance Standards attestation. |
Tips for applicants
Download every PDF on the nursing landing page—generic vs. transition applications differ. Schedule TEAS early enough to retest if you miss a subject minimum, and gather immunization titers before clinical deadlines. If you have any prior legal or Board correspondence, ask SPC nursing leadership and Texas BON eligibility staff before you invest in prerequisite coursework.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
South Plains College’s 2025–2026 financial aid Cost of Attendance lists tuition and fees—including instructional support, student insurance, health services, and (when applicable) out-of-district fees—for a nine-month budget built around 12 or more credit hours per semester in fall and spring. Nursing students should add program-specific clinical fees, uniforms, testing, vaccines, and background-check costs that are not embedded in that baseline row.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Tuition & fees (9 months; COA “Tuition & Fees” row) | In-district $2,762 · Out-of-district (Texas resident) $4,932 · Out-of-state $5,314 |
| Total Cost of Attendance examples | The same COA page lists full budgets (housing, food, books, transportation)—for example $13,562 on-campus / $18,215 off-campus for in-district students. Use the official table for your living situation. |
| District residency | In-district status requires physical residence in the SPC district (Hockley County or Whiteface CISD) with documented timelines per South Plains College rules. |
| Source | SPC Cost of Attendance (2025–2026) · Tuition & Fees overview |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
Beyond NCLEX-RN, SPC’s ADN outcomes page links to completion and job-placement spreadsheets (filename references Spring 2025 on the public link). Download those tables to see methodology and cohort years rather than relying on secondary summaries.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (ADN aggregate) | 96.34% (2024) — South Plains College ADN outcomes |
| Job placement (school files) | See linked Excel workbook on the outcomes page; confirm cohort year and definitions with the nursing office. |
| Employment claim (news context) | An SPC newsroom article stated the ADN program “consistently has a 90-percent or greater employment rate” alongside a December 2023 cohort NCLEX story—confirm whether that figure matches the spreadsheet you download and which years it covers. |
| Source | Program outcomes page · SPC newsroom · For statewide nursing education statistics, see the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies. |
Is South Plains College the Right Fit for You?
Pick South Plains College if you want a Texas public, Board-approved LVN or an ACEN-accredited ADN with published ties to Lubbock-area hospitals—and you can handle TEAS-based, limited-seat admissions. Choose another school if you require a four-year BSN on the same campus, fully online clinical nursing, or guaranteed admission without a competitive nursing application.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Can qualify for SPC in-district tuition (Hockley County / Whiteface CISD) or can budget for out-of-district/out-of-state COA tiers.
- Enjoy a smaller hometown campus but still want inpatient rotations through major Lubbock hospital partners.
- Are pursuing LVN first, paramedic-to-RN, or a traditional ADN with clear Board disclosures online.
- Stay proactive with compliance paperwork—immunizations, CPR, drug screens, background checks.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Cannot commute repeatedly to Lubbock-area clinicals while living far from the South Plains.
- Expect to skip entrance exams—TEAS minimums are explicit on the nursing page.
- Need graduate nursing (MSN/DNP) or an ABSN-style calendar from SPC itself.
- Want a program with uninterrupted high NCLEX rates every single year without reviewing multi-year volatility.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
Levelland sits on the South Plains west of Lubbock—close enough for students to train in Lubbock’s referral hospitals while living in a smaller community. South Plains College publishes a detailed clinical affiliate list spanning acute care, behavioral health, senior living, schools, and specialty clinics.
| Facility / system (from SPC list) | Details |
|---|---|
| Covenant Health System & affiliates | Multiple covenant-branded hospitals, surgery centers, and community sites appear on SPC’s affiliate roster—common locale for med-surg and specialty rotations. |
| University Medical Center (UMC) Health | Lubbock’s major academic-leaning hospital partner for high-acuity experience. |
| TTUHSC Larry Combest Community Health & Wellness Center | Community and population-health exposure tied to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center nursing collaborations. |
| Senior living & behavioral health partners | Facilities such as Carillon, Dove Tree Ranch, High Point Village, Lynwood, and Oceans Behavioral Health illustrate long-term care and mental-health clinical variety. |
| Specialty & outpatient sites | Examples include Southwest Regional Wound Care and West Texas Digestive Disease Center—adding ambulatory/procedural perspectives. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Health sciences and nursing leadership are embedded in SPC’s wider student-services ecosystem (Dr. Jerry Findley, Dean of Health Sciences, and Dr. Tara Strawn, Director of Nursing Programs, per the public nursing hub). Marketing materials emphasize small class sizes, refreshed curricula, and simulation-forward learning before students care for live patients in affiliate hospitals.
Expect a commuter-heavy lifestyle: many nursing students drive from Lubbock, Plainview, or rural towns for classes on the Levelland campus or clinical days in Lubbock. Student life often revolves around cohort bonding, study groups, and Skills/ Simulation lab hours rather than dorm traditions.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Main campus
- (806) 716-2000 · 1401 S. College Ave, Levelland, TX 79336, US
- Director of Nursing Programs
- Dr. Tara Strawn · (806) 716-2030 · tstrawn@southplainscollege.edu
- Dean of Health Sciences
- Dr. Jerry Findley · (806) 716-4635 · jfindley@southplainscollege.edu
- Health Sciences admin assistant
- Jill Fowler · (806) 716-2391 (listed on newsroom contact block)
- Website
- southplainscollege.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Download the latest SPC nursing application PDFs (generic vs. transition).
- Compare your transcripts with the prerequisite list in the nursing information packet and SPC catalog.
- Schedule the TEAS through the Testing Center after verifying minimum subject scores for your pathway.
- Email the nursing office with questions about district residency, TSI, or background-check paperwork.
- Read the Core Performance Standards and immunization forms so you know what clinical agencies expect.
- Bookmark the Texas BON Education Dashboard to verify approval wording independently.
- Set calendar reminders for the nursing application deadline that matches your target term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Plains College ADN accredited?
The college’s public nursing materials state the Levelland ADN program is ACEN-accredited (continuing accreditation) and Texas Board of Nursing–approved. LVN sites list separate Board approvals for Levelland, Reese, and Plainview. Confirm all statuses annually with each agency.
What is the South Plains College ADN NCLEX-RN pass rate?
The ADN Program Outcomes table shows an aggregated 96.34% first-time NCLEX-RN rate for 2024. Cross-check the Texas BON Education Dashboard for Board-published statistics.
Does South Plains College offer a BSN?
No—SPC delivers associate-level RN prep and vocational nursing. Students often transfer to partner universities for RN-to-BSN completion after licensure.
Does South Plains College nursing require TEAS?
Yes. Official instructions route applicants through the SPC Testing Center for TEAS and publish minimum section scores that differ slightly between generic ADN and LVN/paramedic-to-RN pathways.
What TEAS scores does South Plains College publish?
For ADN, English/Math/Reading ≥58.7% and Science ≥50%. For LVN or paramedic-to-RN transition, Science rises to ≥58.7% with the same other subjects.
How much is South Plains College tuition for 2025–26?
The Cost of Attendance lists nine-month tuition and fees of $2,762 in-district, $4,932 out-of-district, and $5,314 out-of-state before books, housing, and nursing fees.
Where are South Plains College nursing clinicals?
SPC publishes affiliates including Covenant facilities, University Medical Center, TTUHSC community clinics, school districts, behavioral-health centers, and long-term care—mostly in the Lubbock area plus local South Plains partners.
Does South Plains College offer LVN and paramedic-to-RN?
Yes. LVN tracks operate on multiple campuses, and a transition application packet covers LVNs and paramedics pursuing the ADN.
Did South Plains College report a 100% NCLEX cohort?
A school newsroom article highlighted a December 2023 ADN class of 45 students with a 100% NCLEX pass rate. Treat that as a single cohort story; rely on the multi-year outcomes table for trend analysis.
References
- South Plains College — Nursing Degrees hubsouthplainscollege.edu/nursing
- South Plains College — Nursing programs / applications / TEAS minimumssouthplainscollege.edu/…/adn-new.php
- South Plains College — ADN Program Outcomes (NCLEX table)programoutcomes.php
- South Plains College — Newsroom (NCLEX cohort story)nursing-pass-rate-2023.php
- South Plains College — Cost of Attendance 2025–2026financial-aid/cost.php
- South Plains College — Tuition & Fees overviewtuitionfees.php
- South Plains College — ADN Testing Center (TEAS)adntesting.php
- Texas Board of Nursing — Education Dashboardbon.texas.gov Education Dashboard
- Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studiesdshs.texas.gov
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for alignment of NCLEX figures with South Plains College’s published outcomes table, tuition figures with the 2025–26 Cost of Attendance, TEAS thresholds with the public nursing programs page, and program scope (ADN, LVN, transition) with official SPC materials.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Texas Board of Nursing.
Published: April 1, 2026 · Last reviewed: April 1, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy